Ask Phoebe: Easter a very moveable feast

Contractors must have a permit before they cone off any public road or footpath. Photo / Wairarapa Times-Age

Do contractors who cone off footpaths and lanes of traffic need to get council or roading authority permission? Can a contractor block traffic because they want to trim a tree or lay a concrete drive?
Greg Wilson, Auckland.

If a contractor wants or needs to cone off any public road or footpath, they must have a permit. This includes tree trimming and driveway laying, although, dare I say it, I think some contractors may occasionally overlook this requirement.

Easter is very late this year - Good Friday is not until April 22. Why is that? Last year Good Friday was on April 2. I know it is a Christian observance, but do other churches follow the same calendar, for example the Russian, Greek and Serbian Orthodox Churches?
Anne Stewart, Rotorua.

Easter is what's called a moveable feast. Easter Sunday in the Western churches is observed on the first Sunday after the first full moon that appears on or after the vernal equinox.

The vernal equinox signals the beginning of the northern spring, and is March 21 in the ecclesiastical calendar, although, astronomically, it is more usually March 20.

Easter Sunday, or Easter Day, thus always falls between March 22 and April 25. This year, the first full moon after March 21 is on April 18, and so the next Sunday is April 24.

Last year, the first full moon after March 21 was on March 30, and the next Sunday was April 2.

The eastern or Orthodox Christian churches base their religious holidays on the Julian calendar, not the Gregorian as ours is. March 21 corresponds, during the 21st century, to April 3 in the Julian calendar, and so their celebration of Easter varies between April 4 and May 8. (Source: Wikipedia)

Outside a local dairy a parking sign clearly states "10 at all times". Parking signs in other areas indicate 30, 60, 90, 120 and 180 - none of them with that proviso of "at all times". Many of the 90 minute signs are private and relate to the carpark outside the supermarket which is shared with council parking signage. For instance, if I left my car parked on one of the aforementioned signed areas while at our splendidly restored picture theatre from, say 6pm to 10pm, could I legally get a parking fine? Is it a given that they are legally effective 24/7? If it is a given, why bother with that "at all times" on the dairy 10 minute parking restriction.
Peter Norwood, Devonport.

If you leave your car in any parking slot for longer than the indicated time limit, you can receive a fine. Most parking areas display the hours within which the time limit has effect, but if there are no hours displayed, I would take it that the parking restrictions operate 24/7. Auckland Transport confirms that 'at all times' means just that - the restrictions apply around the clock, 7 days a week.